Machine for fabricating glass



J. c. SMITH 2,368,170

Filed May '7, 1942 7 Sheets-She@l 1 Jgse hzdaa zy 9 Jan. 30, 1945.

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING GLASS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. c. SMITH MACHINE FOR FABRICATING GLASS Filedmay 7, 1942 4 Jan. 3o, 1945.

Jan. 30, 1945. J, c. SMITH n 2,368,170

MACHINE FOR FABRICATIING GLASS Filed May 7, 1942 7 sheets-sheet s Jan. 30, 1945.

J. C. SMITH MACHINE FOR FABRICATING GLASS '7 sheets-sheet 4 Filed May 7, 1942 Jesse Conrad Szm,

Jan. 3o, 194s. J C, SMWH 2,368,170

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING GLASS 7 sheets-smet e Filed May 7, 194?.

Jesse 'ofad J. C. SMITH Jan. 30, 1945.

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING GLASS Filed May 7, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 v i INVENoR. Jesse Conrad Smith,

'c car? ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 30, 1945 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE;

2,368,170 MACHINE Fon FABRICATING GLASSv Jesse Conrad Smith, Merrick, "N. Y., assigner to MacGregor Instrument Company, Needham, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationMay 7, 1942, Serial No. 442,024

12 Claims.

This invention relates to machine for fabricating from glass tubing shaped articles of uniform .internal diameter and capacity, such as the cylindrical barrels of vhypodermic syringes.

The general object of my present invention is to provide a machine for producing in commercial quantities and at relatively low cost cylindrical syringe barrels, or other articles, which are substantially uniform in diameter from end to end thereof and hence need not be subjected to grinding operations to bring them to cylindricity.

By my invention I am able to consistently hold `the diameter variations of my syringe barrels to such extremely close tolerances (in the order of plus or minus .0001,of an inch) that for all practical purposes my barrels may be considered to be identical in capacity and diameter. Moreover, these tolerances are maintained throughout the full length of the barrel, thus insuring accurate iit of the mating plunger throughout its entire working stroke in the barrel.

In carrying out my invention I subject blanks of glass tubing of approximately the internal and external diameters required forthe finished baryrels, or other articles, to a series of nre-sizing and shaping operations which brings the internal and external diameters of the blanks to the precise dimension wanted, without grinding, and simultaneously gives the barrels their required external configuration.

My machine includes an intermittently rotat# able turret on which is mounted a plurality vof equi-distantly spaced continuously rotating arbors carrying blanks in various stages of processing. The turret is progressively indexed step by step through a circular path so as to carry each arbor into and out of the zones of action f a number of diierent Work stations arranged adjacent said path. Both the arbors and the stations are spaced apart from each other distances corresponding substantially lto the distance that the turret advances at each step, The indexing movement of the turret is discontinued and the turret locked as each arbor isbrought opposite each work station so that the blank on such arbor .may be actedV upon by the particular instrumentalities at such station. I

- Thev ilrst position in th turret cycle is a loading position at which a blank is placed on an arbor. f

Following the loading position is Aone or more pre-heating positions ai which each blank is subjected to pre-heating dame from stationary if burners.

Following the last pre-heating position, if there be more than one, is a barrel-sizing station at which each preheated blank is subjected to a nre-sizing and' shaping operation accompanied by .end-pressure thereon to bring its-inside diameter to the exact arbor diameter and to change its outside diameter from a smaller toa larger diameter than that of. the original blank. A ange is also formed on the lower end of the yblank at this station.

Following the barrel-sizing'station is a tipforming station at which each blank is subjected to a nre-shaping operation which forms a tip, with hollow bore, on the upper end of the blank. Either at this station, or if desired at some later station, the globule of excess glass incidental to the formation of thetip is cut off. Either at this station, or if desired at some later station, opposite edges of the barrel ilange may also be slabbed ofi, These cutting operations are independently lperformed by appropriate cutters operating in time to the indexing of the turret. During the flange cutting operation the arbor is momentarily locked against rotation about its own axis.

' The instrumentalities for performing thebarrei-sizing' and tip-forming operations include independent sets of appropriately shaped rolls. The rolls of each set are equ-distantly spaced and each set of rolls is .mounted to o'pen and close as a unit. Each set of rolls is opened justtionally contact the sizing arbor. and are rotated thereby about their own axes, softening heat being simultaneously applied to the rotating blank to enable it to be Worked by the rolls.

At the barrel-sizing station, such softening heat is applied to the rotating blank in a narrow band by means of vone or more llames which progressively traverse the blank substantially from end to end while the blank is simultaneously A being compressed from one end. Such endwise compression upsets the softened-glass, which thereupon expands into contact with either the arbor or the barrel-sizing rolls, or' both, thus pre-iv venting further change in the inside and outside diameters of the blank while the rolls are at work, but producing an enlarged glass portion or ring which as the softening flames traverse the blank is gradually converted into a tube of scale S4.

greater diameter than its original diameter and the inside Wall thereof is given the same diameter as the arbor.

At the tip-forming station, the softening ame need not traverse the tip, but in order to form a bore through the tip and to support the tip against' collapse during formation, I insert into the Vopen end of the blank from above at the proper time a retractible wire, which wire is automatically withdrawn when the tip is completed and the turret ready to resume indexing.

Following the tip-forming station are one or more positions at which the formed barrel may be given such nal fire-polishing operations as are required.

Following these positions are cooling positions at which the finished barrel is progressively cooled until it reaches a final position at which it is cool enough to permit its removal from the arbor.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4, of either...

Fig. 1 or Fig. 2,'showing the tip forming rolls and the flange cutters at the tip-forming station at work.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged View, partly-in section, more particularly detailing the barrel-sizing and shaping operation illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 'I is an enlarged view, partly in section, more particularly detailing the tip-forming operation illustrated in Fig. 4, and also showing the VIlange'cu-tters in position to shear oil opposite edges of the barrel iiange.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7 but showing the tip as having been formed and the tip-forming rolls as having opened, this view also showing the flange cutters as having opened after .completing their cutting stroke, and the cu'tter for cutting oi the globule of excess glass at the xtip as having commenced to cut.V I

Fig. 9 is' a side View of the blank from which the hypodermic syringe -ba-rrel depicted in Fig. 10 is formed.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the formed barrel,

Fig. 11 is a side view of a complete hypodermic syringe, and Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the piping from the cam-actuated'piston slide valves to the various operating cylinders which ,they control.

Referring to Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the barrel blank 8l (Fig. 9) is a glass tubing of predetermined dimensions. Such blanks may be pre-selected from ordinary tubing, or may be pre-sized.

The syringe barrel S of Fig. 10 is' fabricated from blank ll. Such barrel has a reduced conical tip S' at one end, with hollow bore-therethrough, and an enlarged flange Sz at its opposite end, said flange preferably being slabbed olf at Opposite sides as at S The external surface oi' the barrel is When assembled as a hyprodermic syringe, a needle T is mounted on the barrel tip, anda provided with a conventional dosage 4is formed as a shoulder U' which contacts the barrel flange just before the forward end of the plunger contacts the forward end wall or the barrel to thereby limit the penetration of the plunger in the barrel and prevent breakage of such end wall by reason of too severe contact of the plunger therewith.

The machine for fabricating the blanks into syringe barrels having the aforesaid characteristics is structurally depicted in Figs. l to 5 inclusive and certain of its operating effects are diagrammatically depicted in Figs. 6, 7, and 8.

Referring Ito Fig. 1, I have designated -by the referencecharacters A to P inclusive, different positions or stations in the clockwise cycle of the turret. y

Position A is an idle position between the loading position B at which Iblank 8l is inserted endwise from-above on one of the continuously revolving arbors 5 carried by fthe turret and the unloading position P at which the formed and cooled barrel is removed from the machine.

Positions C and D, are preheating positions. While the turret is paused in its intermittent rotation at :these positions, the rotating blank 8l is subjected to preheating flame from one or more stationary preheating burners 82 (Fig. 2) preferably of the ribbon type.

Stations E and F are barrel-sizing and tipforming stations. respectively. While the .turret is paused in its intermittent rotation at these stations, the preheated blank is successively subjected Ito nre-sizing and shaping operations which size the blank to barrel dimension and configuration and form the barrel tip.

At station E the rotating blank is sized to arbor dimension and shaped by a plurality of radially arranged sizing and shaping rolls 83 which are substantially coexnsive in length with the blank. Rolls 83 automatically operi and close as a unit. They open to permit the blank to enter between them while the turret is indexing, and close on the blank when the turret comes to rest. After the rolls have completed their work they automatically open again to permit the blank -to leave them when the turret is ready to resume `comes to rest, and againopen to permit the blankV its indexing movement. While the rolls are closed, the blank is continuously bathed in softening ame substantially from end to end thereof by one or more vertically traveling burners il. Simultaneously end prsure to insure adequate flow ofthe softened glass for the formation of the barrel flange is exerted on the upper end of the blank by means of a weight actuated follower 'Il (see Fig. l6') which is automatically lowered and raised in time to the indexing o( theturxet;

At station F, the tip is formed on the rotating blank by a plurality of radially arranged tip forming rolls II (see Fig. '1) which likewise open to permit the blank to enter them while the turret is indexing, close on the blank when the turret to leave them when the turret is ready to resume its indexing movement. 'These rolls may in 'fact open andV close on the tip several times while the turretispausedinits rotationinordertoeom- Dletely form the tip. While roll; l5. t work the tip is continuously bathed in softening ame from atleast onestationn'yburner andhas a I2 vinthe turretand bore termed therein and is supported against co1- lapse by a retractible bore-forming wire 81 which enters avhole I| in the upper end of Ithe arbor when the turret comes to rest vand is automati-4 cally withdrawn therefrom when the turret is ready to resume indexing.

While at station F the blank is momentarily locked against rotation while two opposite edges of the barrel flange are slabbed off by means of two oppositely disposed pairs of vertically opening and closing shearing cutters 88and 89. During this cutting action, the barrel flange is bathed in a softening ame from a'stationary burner, 90 (see Fig. '1) which smoothes or re-polishes the cut edges of the flange.

While at station F, but after the tip has been completed and the barrel flange slabbcd off, the globule of excess glass 9| ait the ti-p of the rotating blank is cut oi (see Fig. 8) by means of a pivoted cutter 92 operating in time with the tipforming rolls. Cutter 92 is swung into cutting contact with said globule While the tiip is sti1l being formed and is swung away from the blank when the turret is ready to resume its indexing movement.

The remaining positions, designated I to 0,'

are idle positions, cooling of the blanks at these stations occurring by reason of their being .exposed to the atmosphere. I

The turret and associated parts above referred to are all supported on a suitable frame. Re-

are designated at l. Surmounting the legs is a flat top p1ate'2 formed with a central housing 3 (Fig. 3) providing a support for the intermittently revoluble turret 4. The turret 4 is disposed in a horizontal plane parallel to and is spaced therefrom a distance suiiicient to accommodate the driving belt I4 for the spindles 8 of a plurality of continuously'rotating equidistaniily spaced blank supporting arbors 5.

Arbors 5 are vertically arranged about the circumference ofthe turret 4 and are preferably spaced from one another distances corresponding-to the distance that the turret is indexed each step in its revolution.

Each arbor 5 is shouldered as ai; 6 and below said-shoulder carries a sizing roll 1 (see Figs. 6, '1, and 8) which is assembled in any suitable manner to a driving spindle a. Each spin-die a has a.

base portion 9 disposed closely adjacent the top face of the turret and provided with a series of spaced peripheral locking notches I8 (see Figs. 1 and 5) the purpose of which is to .enable each spindle to be temporarily llocked against rotation about its own axis;y when the flange cutters 88-89 operate, as will be'later explained in' connection with the description of said ange cutters.

spindles 8 are supported by suitable anti-friction bearings (not shown) in vertical holders (Fig. 3). Each holder is xed in afbearing is provided at its lower end with a driven pulley I3. All -pulleys I3 except the pulley at station M are driven bythe common belt I4 located inthespace between..'turret 4 and topplate 2.

neit i4 is' continudusly driven bvs driving pulley Il mounted on the upper end of a pulley shaft I 8' which is journalled vertieallyin a bracket I1 fastened -to the under side of top plate 2. pulley ferring to Fig. Z/the supporting legs of the frame 'n the top plate, 2

lbetween the legs I of the machine frame. on the shaft of said motor is a pulley 22 driving 29. i Worm shaft 29c has a station for each complete revolution of plate 45.

. 3 witn'puney is (see Fig. s). Beit i4 may be tensioned in any suitable manner as by means of a pair of tensioning rolls 20 (see Fig. 1).

Turret 4 is rotated step by step by a motor 2| (see Fig. 2) supported in any suitable manner Fast a. belt 23 which is trained over a tension pulley 24 mounted on a shaft 25. Fast on shaft 25 is a second pulley 28 (see Fig. 3) which is belted at 21 to a pulley 28 on a stub shaft 29 suitably supported from the frame top 2.

ATension pulley 24 is adjusted by means of a toggle 30 (see Fig. 2) which is pivoted at 3| to a-bracket 32 slidable transversely of the machine frame by any well known means, such as a. hand wheel 33 through screw `shaft 34 and nuts 35 so that both belts 23 and '21 may be simultaneously adjusted. 'v

Stub shaft 29, through conventional reduction gearing, drives main shaft 31 of the machine. Such gearing may comprise a worm 29a on shaft 29 meshing with a worm gear 29b on worm shaft worm 29d thereon shaft 31. Shaft 31 sleeve 38 extending meshing with worm on is vertically journaled in a through the housing through a central bearing ret 4.

Fastened to the top face of bearing 39 is a gear 40 (Figs. 3 and 5) meshing with a pinion 4| on a stub shaft 42. Pinion 4| also meshes with a stepping gear 43 on the loweriend of a cam shaft 44. Gear 43 has only two teeth and consequently turret 4 will be stepped clockwise only one arbor 39 integral with tur- Stub shaft 42 and cam shaft 44 are both journaled vertically in a stationary head plate 45 supported at one'end of the frame top 2 by means of a tie rod 45 and clamped at its other end by means of tie rods 41 about sleeve 38. Fast to the upper end of cam shaft 44- is a gear 48 (Figs. l and 3) which meshes with a pinion 49 on a stub shaft 48 journaled vertically in head Pinion 49 is driven by means of gear 59 on the upper end of main shaft 31. A A

Fixed to -th'e upper face of gear 50 is a multiple ring timing cam 5|, having a plurality of vertically spaced circular .cam rings 52 having l(il) shaft II isJ continuously rotated by a pulley |9- fast on :the lower end of said-shaft and driven dwells 52a for timed coaction with the piston slide valves 53 of a plurality of laterally disposed cylinders 54 arranged concentricallyabout said cam (see Figs. 1 .and 3). mounted at different elevations on a bracket 55 fixed to the upper face of head plate 45.

Pistons 53 control the supply of oil, air, orv

other pressure medium to individual hydraulic cylinders 13. 94, 94, 94h, II5, ||8, |33, |52 and |89, which at the proper time operate, respectively, the turret locking rod 61, the sizing rolls 83, the retractible end pressure device 84, the retractible tip-bore forming wire 81, the tip forming rolls 85, the flange cutters 88-89, and the globulei cutter 92. This is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. '12 .wherein the several valve pistons 5,3 are shown as being normally urged to wards their respective cam rings 52 by compression springs 53, When during rotation of the cam 5|, the pistons drop into the dwells 52' of their respective cams, the

is supplied from a common pressure source (not from motor I9 hung from bracket I1 through any v suitable driving connections, as a pulley on the motor shaft and a belt connecting that pulley Various Op* 3 of the frame top 2 and gear 43.A

Cylinders 54 are pressure medium, which Sleeved about gear 48 on cam shaft 44 is a barrel cam 56 with which coacts a cam roll 51 (see Figs. 1 and 3) fast to a vertically sliding plate 58 which is guided on fixed guide rods 59 rising from head plate 45. Extending laterally from slide plate 58 is a plurality of arms 60, here shown as three, in which are clamped a plurality of burners 6| which are supplied from any suitable supply source (not shown). softening flames from the vertically moving burners 6| traverse the blank substantially from end to end while it /is paused at station E and the sizing rolls 83 are atwork".

Before turret 4 may be indexed by means of stepping gear 43, it must be unlatched. This is accomplished through rocker arm 62 (see Fig. 3) which is intermittently actuated in time to the indexing of the turret by the piston of a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure cylinder 13 under the control of one of the cam rings 52.

Rocker arm 62 is pivoted at one end at 63 to a support 64 depending from frame plate 2. Fastened to the other end of the rocker arm in any suitable manner, as by the pin and slot connections 65 and 66, is a turret-locking rod B1 which reciprocates in a vertical bearing 68 iixed in frame plate 2.

The upper end of rod 61 is socketed as at 69 to successively engage a series of vertically positioned turret-locking pins 10. Pins 10 are spaced from each other about the periphery of the turret distances corresponding to the distance that the turret rotates at each step and when engaged by rod 61 .positively lock the turret in its indexed position. Said pins are xedly mounted on the turret opposite to but laterally outward of the arbors 5.

Locking rod 61 is actuated through rocker arm 62 in properly timed relation to the stepping of the turret by air, oil or other medium under pressure from supply line 1I acting against piston 12 of cylinder 13.

Cylinder 13 is supported as at 14. (see Fig. 3)

from the underside of frame plate 2 and the piston rod 15 of its piston 12 is extended through the lower end of the cylinder and when actuated engages the rocker' arm 82 and rocks it downwardly on its pivot 63 against the action of a return spring 16 which is fastened at its respective ends to arm 82 and to frame plate 2. The downward motion of rocker arm 62 causes the socket 69 of rod 61 towithdraw from whichever pin 10 it was in engagement.

In order to prevent backlashof the turret, due primarily to the fact that pulley belt I4 is continuously rotating in a direction counter to the direction of indexing movement of the turret, I provide a notched linger 11 (see Fig. 1) which is pivoted at one end at 18 to bracket I1 and is spring tensioned as at 19.

The free end oi' linger 11, which is notched as at 00, is normally urged by spring 10 into the rotative path of the pins 10, but notch 00-is open cally opened to admit the blank therebetween, are then closed around the blank as the turret comes to rest and is locked against indexing, and are again opened to permit the blank to leave the rolls when the rolls finish their work and the turret is ready to resume indexing.

The mechanism for opening and closing said rolls in time with the indexing of the turret includes pressure cylinders` 94, 94B, 94b to which oil or other medium under pressure is admitted at the proper time behind the pistons 95, 95B, 85b thereof from pipes 96, 96e, 96b connecting with any suitable supply source (notshown). The admission of the pressure medium to the cylinder 94 is under the contro1 of oneof the cam rings 52, and the admission of the pressure medium simultaneously to both of the cylinders 94a and 94b is under the control of another of said cam rings. Preferably there is a cylinder for each roll, said cylinders being ilxedly mounted on head plate 45 adjacent the rolls.

Pistons 95, 95, 95b engage flattened portions on av plurality of shafts 91, 91a, 91h. When said pistons are projected outwardly of their cylinders they force said shafts outwardly. Said shafts are vertically mounted in the ears 98, 98, 9|!b of pivoted arms 99, 99a and |03 (see Fig. 5), and rolls 83 are journaled at their ends in said arms (see Fig. 6). There are -two arms 99, .09a and a single arm |03. Arms 99, 99a are pivoted around 4a common pivot center |00 (see Fig. 5) and are spring-tensioned as at |0| and |02. Arm |03 is pivoted on a separate pivot |04 and is springtensioned as at |05.

When shafts 91, 91, 9 1b are forced outwardly by their respective pistons, arms 99, 98a and |02 are swung about their pivots |00 and |04 to their open position against theaction of their return springs. This separates/the rolls 83 a distance sumcient to permitpthe blank to be entered therebetweenduring the indexing movement of the turret, or to leave't'he rolls when the turret is ready to .resume indexing.'

When the turret stops and is latched, pistons 95, 95, 95b retract into their cylinders and rolls 83 are closedalbout the blank by the arm-return in the direction'of rotation of the turret so thatl pins 10 may successively ride therepast during indexing of the turret. As' the turret completes each step, one of the 'pins .10 will automatically sprin'gs. When closed, the rolls are in frictional contact with the sizing arbor 1 so as to be rotated thereby. l

At or immediately'aiter rolls 83 have closed on the blank, the end pressure device 84 is automatically'forced downwardly into contact with the upper end of the blank to press the softened glass towards the lower end of the blank and thereby as'sure a-sumcient quantity of glass at such zone [for the formation of the barrel flange.

I'his may be accomplished by means of a weight.

APressure device 04 is fast on the lower .endlof a rod |01 and is of such design as to enter within the upper end of the blank 'when in operating position. Rod 01 is slidably guided in a fixed guide bracket |01 (see Fig. 3). Sleeved about said rod'to move therewith is a protective sleeve |08 to which weight I 00 is fast. Rod |01 and its sleeve |00 operate in.an opening ||0 in head plate 40.

' Thelovwer end of sleeve Illabuts an actuating enter said` notch thereby preventing ,backlash of the turret. 'Ihe preheated blankis sized and shaped to ban-e1 form at station E and the ange S2 formed on its lowerend.

During the stepping or the turretaivlnce. the blank from preheating position D to station E, the sizing and'shaping rolls are automatisleeve III which has an elongated vertical groove ||2` (Fig. 2). Sleeve III is tast to rod |01 so that when saidsleeve is raised, rod |01 will rise therewith. v

'Sleeve III is raised by lever Ill, the inner end offwhich rides in a shouldered groove I I2 (Fig. 2). Lever IIS is pivoted between its ends at III. Its outer end is in line with the piston of a hydraulic or other cylinder mounted on a suitable bracket carried by head plate 45. The supply of pressure medium admitted to said cylinder to actuate the piston thereof is under the control of one of the cam rings 52. When the piston in cylinder ||5 is projected downwardly, trip lever H3 is rocked on its pivot to raise rod |01. In this action, the inner end of the lever ||3 rides upf.

wardly along groove ||2 in sleeve until it contacts the shoulder at the upper end of said groove and begins to raise the sleeve. vSince rod |01 is fast to the sleeve, the rod rises with the sleeve. When the supply of pressure medium to said cylinder I l5 is discontinued, rod |01 gradually drops by gravity to the operating position shown in Fig. 6, thereby restoring sleeve and lever` i3 to their original positions.

The shaping rolls83 are provided with annu .lar grooves ||6 of a shape and width to form the flange on the barrel. These grooves are located substantially at the shoulder 6 on `arbor 5 Iwhich supports the lower end'ofthe blank. Below said grooves ||6 the rolls have sizing portions ||1 to engage the sizing roll 1 of arbor 5.

During this sizing and shaping operation, softening'fiames from the vertically traversing burners 6| are continuously and progressively played on the blank, starting from the lower end thereof.

When ange 'S2 has been formed on the blank and the blank has been brought to the dimension. of the arbor the rolls 83 are again automatically i pressure in cylinder H8 by means orf one of the cam rings 52. Coil spring H9, anchored at its ends respectively to anm and bracket |2|, thereupon draws arm |20 downwardly about its pivot |22 on upright |23rising from bracket |2| carried by head plate 45.

The free end of arm .|20 is formed to engage a pin |24 xed in a block |25 which is axially bored to receive an inner protecting sleeve |26 for said rod 81. The inner protective sleeve |26 slides as a unit with rod 81 inside and independently o f an outer protecting sleeve |28.

Sleeve |29 extends through spaced stuiling boxes |30 and |3| and'is made fast to the piston |32 of a pressure cylinder |33 which-opens and closes the tip-forming'rolls 85 at the proper time. The supply of uid under pressure through pipe |34 to cylinder) |33 is under the control of one of the cam rings 52.

Cylinder |33 surmounts housing |35. Slidable within the bore of housing |35 is a slide |36 to which the lower end of the outer protective sleeve |29 is fast. lSlide |36 is cone-shaped at itsl lower end and when forced downwardly by piston |32 engages a plurality of concentrically arranged cam rolls |31 mounted in arms |38.

Arms |38 are pivoted at their upper ends at |39 to housing |35, and the tip for-ming rolls 85 areirotatably journaled at |40 in the lower ends of arms.|38. Coilsprings |4| fastened at theirl upper ends to said arms at |42- and at their lower l rolls |31, the arms |38 are spread apart against axially,V tend to draw the lower ends of arms |38 inwardly to vposition the tip-forming rolls -85 in contact with the rotating `blank (Figs. 4 and'l). Springs |4| may be tensioned by any suitable means as the thumb screws |44. When slide |38 is forced downwardly by piston |32 against cam the action of their return springs |4I to thereby open the rolls 85. Thus the rolls 85 are automatically opened to permit the barrel blank .to be enteredy therebetween as the turret rotates to advance the blank to station F, are closed to operate on the tip while the turret is paused at said station, and are opened again to permit the blank to leave the rolls when the' turret resumes indexing. Y

The rolls may be adjusted relative to each other in any suitable manner. As here show n, the lower end ofhousing |35 is provided with a stud |45.

Integral with said stud is an eccentric pin |46 which engages a sleeve |41 mounted inthe lower A end of the housing bore. Sleeve |41 is reduced at its lower end to receive a tapered cam |48 (Figs. 'l and 8) which is made `fast to sleeve |41 by screw |49.; Tapered cani |48 engages the coneshaped upper ends |50 of the .tip-forming rolls 85. By turning the eccentric .pin |46 in one direction or the other, the sleeve |41 and cam |48 are either raised or lowered to regulate the distance that said rolls are separated -from one another.

Rod 81 may be raised and locked in inoperative 4 position, whenever desired, by means of springtensioned swing, lever |21 (see Figs. 2 and 4)..

Fast on rod 81 is a latch block |28 to which block |25 may be latched by means :of flat latching spring |21 secured at its lower end to block |25. Lever .|21 is pivoted on upright |21 rising from bracket |2| and is adapted to beswung manually forward and away from block |28. It is tensioned I by a compression spring |21b coiled around said upright which normally holds lever |21 away from block |28. when 1ever |21' is swung beneath block |28 block '|25and rod 81. are locked in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2.

While rolls 85 are at work, the tip is continuously bathed in softening" flame' from the stationary burners 86. When the tip is completed and just before the turret `is ready toistep, the bore-forming rod 81 is retracted from the tip bore `a distance sulcient to clear the tip fby sending air or other pressure medium'into cylinder H8, and slide |36 is restored lto the position of. Fig. 8 by the pressure within cylinder |33. Before the rod 81 is thus moved into its retracted position, the rolls are inoperatively positioned by ad mitting fluid pressure to the' piston |32 in the cylinder |33 to actuate the slide block |36. Such actuation of the slide block |36 pivots the arms |38 againstthe action of the springs |4| to position the rolls 85 inoperatively. AWhenever the uid pressure on piston |32 is relievedythe springs |4| immediately become effective to position the rolls 85 operatively and to force the block `|36 upwardly.

Before leaving station F, opposite edges of the barrel ange may be cut off and the cut edges of the flange fire-smoothed. -f

The flange cutting mechanism comprises two opposite pairs of Yvertically reciprocable shearing cutters 88 and 89. These are advanced and withdrawn, and opened and closed, in timed relationv to the other parts of the machine by mechanism now to be described.

Such mechanism includes a'pressure cylinder by one of the cam rings 52. Fast to the piston |53 of cylinder |52 is an actuating rod |54 (see Figs. 4 and 5) which is guided as at |55 through the cylinder head.

Fixed to the outer end of rod |54 is a tapered cam |56 which acts against a pair of cam rolls |51 rotatably mounted at the rear ends of a pair of arms |58. Arms |58 are pivoted between their ends at .|59 within a pair of brackets |59 and at their forward ends are spaced apart a distance to straddle a pair of adjusting plates |60.

Plates |60 are adjusted by means of nuts and set screws IBI extending through arms |58, and the under sides of said plates are spaced apart by a coil spring |62 which is mounted in a recess in a third arm |63 disposed between arms |58 and said plates.

Anm |63 is pivoted between its ends at |64 to the brackets |59' and at its outer end is recessed to receive one end of a coil spring \|65, the other end of which is received in a recess formed in cam |56.

The cutters 88 and 89 are adjustably mounted on the plates |-60 by means of adjusting screws |66.

Extending through cam |56 is a pin |61 which engages the bifurcated end of an arm |68 pivoted at |69 to brackets |59'. Pinned at |10 to arm |68 is one end of a coil spring |1|. The opposite end of spring |1| is anchored at |12 to the cylinder |52 near its rear end (Fig. 5) and its tension may be regulated in any suitable manner, as by thumb screw |13.

Pivot pins |59 work in elongated slots |14 in the side brackets |59'. The purpose of these slots is to permit the cutters to be moved into position before they are actuated. Anchored at one end to said pins is a pair of coil springs |15. The opposite ends of said springs are anchored at |16 to the sides of the brackets. Arm |63 is provided,

with ears |11 forming bearings for pins |59.

The lowermost ear carries a -roll |18 acting on a leaf spring |19, which is iixedly mounted on an arm |80 (see Fig. 4) pivoted at its rear end at |8| between brackets |59. Fastened to arm |80 by the same fastening which mounts leaf spring |19 is an oppositely extending leaf spring |82, the free end of which .bears against the under side of the head of cylinder |52.

Fast to the forward end of arm |80 is a stepped lug |83 which is engageable within any of the notches I in the spindle base 9 in order to stop rotation of the arbor while cutters 88-89 are at work.

Spring 185 is of greater power than the combinedpower of springs so that as said spring |65 is compressed, cutters 88-89 will be advanced as a unit into working position. Cam |56 acting on rolls |51 causes the cutters to close on one another, and spring |62 opens them after they have completed their cut.

After nthe cutters have operated, the pressure in cylinder. |52 is-relieved and spring .|1l withdraws arm |68, relieving tension of spring |65 and permitting springs |15 to retract the cutters. While the cutters are at work, the barrel flange is continuously bathed in softening flame from the stationary bin'ner 90. 'I'his name also firepolishes the cut edges of the flange. l

Before leaving station F, the globule of excess glass 9| is also cut off by means of pivoted cutter 92.

Cutter 92 'is rotatably mounted at the free end i of an arm |84 (see Fig. 1). Arm |84 is pivoted at |85 to'an overhanging bracket |86 on head plate 45. Also pivoted on pivot |85 is an inwardly extending actuating arm |81, the inner end of which V is adapted yto be engaged by the piston |88 of a cylinder |89. The supply of fluid under pressure tocylinder |89 is controlled by one of the cam rings 52, and said cylinder is normally under pressure.

-When the proper cam ring 52 operates, the pressure in said cylinder is relieved, and a spring |90, which is anchored at one end to arm |81 and at its other end to an adjustable screw |9| carried by a projection |92 extending from said cylinder, operates to draw arm |81 inwardly towards the piston, thereby forcing cutter 92 against the globule of glass at the tip end of the barrel.

The frictional contact of said cutter with the rotating barrel causes the cutter to rotate and cut off the globule of glass, after which the cutter is retracted. Such retraction results from the fact that only enough time is allowed the cutter to complete its work before the pressure is again built up in cylinder |89 to the point where piston will be projected against the inner end of arm |81 to rock said arm in the opposite direction against the action of spring |90 and thereby restore it to position.

The opera-tions of forming the tip, slabbing ofi the flange, and cutting off the globule of excess glass are all completed at station F before the turret resumes indexing.

The continued steps of the turret carry the formed barrel successively through positions G to O at which latter position the barrel is cool enough to be Withdrawn from its arbor.

In practice, of course, with the machine fully producing, all arbors at all positions, except position A, are filled with blanks in various stages of fabrication.

Although I have described and illustrated my invention in its adaptation rto the manufacture of syringe barrels which are cylindrical from end to end, it will be understood that such disclosure is illustrative and not limiting and that the principles of my invention may be applied to the manufacture from glass tubing of many other articles ofuniform dimension or capacity, as for example, medicament-containing ampules, and the tubes of uniform bore used in flow meters.

Various modifications in mechanical structure and design may likewise be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention as dened by the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a turret having a bearing, a continuously driven main shaft journalled in said bearing, a cam shaft ad jacent said main shaft, driving connections between said anain shaft and said cam shaft, a 'mutilated stepping gear on said cam shaft and a gear on said bearing for rotating said turret step by step, a multiple ring timing cam surmounting said main shaft and rotated thereby, a cam on said cam shaft, a plurality of pistons and cylinders arranged concentrically about said timing cam `at different elevations relative theretofor independent actuation by the several .cam rings of said timing cam, a traversing burner located adblank, t

means for rotating said arbors, a first and a second set of sizing' and shaping rolls arranged adjacent the rotative path of said turret at spaced points that are substantially opposite points where the turret comes to rest at each step, and means operated by certain of said pistons and cylinders for successively moving said sets of rolls intoand outof coaction ywith pieces of work on said arbors in time tothe indexing movements of operated b v said timing c am in time to the in-v dexing movements of the turret for opening said roll set as a unit relative to each arbor as each arbor is presented to the rolls of said set, means for closing the rolls of said set while the turret is paused in its indexing movement, and a burner located adjacent said roll set for directing a softening flame on vthe piece of Work to soften it,for shaping bly the rolls of said set.

3. A machine for producing glass syringe barrels or/like uniformly dimensioned articles by a series of nre-sizing and shaping operations,A

comprising a support, a revoluble turret, a plurality of rotatable spindles mounted upon said turret and equally spacedalbout the periphery thereof, arbors secured to said spindles and each having a shoulder for supporting one end of a \4. The machine oi claim 3, the axes of both the barrel-forming rolls and of the tip-forming rolls being substantially parallelto the axes of the spindles, A

5. 'I'he machine of claim 3, the barrel-forming rolls and the tip-forming rolls being equidistantly spaced from each other.

6. The machine of claim 3, the arbors having sizing portions below their blank-supporting shoulders, and the barrel-forming rolls having sizing portions for coaction with said sizing portionsof said arbors.

7. The machine of claim 3, the barrel-forming rolls having peripheral grooves adjacent the blank-supporting shoulders of the arbor for the formation of a flange adjacent the supported end of a blank entered between said rolls.

8. A machine for producing glass syringe barrels or like uniformly dimensioned articles bya tubular glass blank inserted endwise thereover,

means forl continuously rotating saidspindles about their axes, a barrel formingymechanism and an independent tip-forming mechanism carried by said support in the path of lsaid spindles and.

spaced from each other a predetermined distance, means to index said turret to position each of said spindles successively in operative proximity irst to said barrel-forming mechanism and then to said tip-formingmechanism, said barrelforming mechanism comprising a pivoted set of imity to said barrel-forming rolls, means togmove said end-pressure device against the unsupported end of the blank to urge said blank against its arbor 'while the barrel-forming rolls are closed upon the blank, means for imparting traversing movements to said longitudinally movable burner thereby to apply softening flame to the blank substantially from end to end-thereof whilesaid blank is being acted upon bar said barrel-forming rolls and said end-pressure device, means rtimed to the indexing of. the turret `for moving said tip forming rolls into and out of coaction with a formed blank on an arbor :when said arbor is indexed into' operative proximity to said tip-forming rolls, and means to move the bore-forming member against the tip .end of the formed blank while the tip forming rolls are closed upon said `series of fire-sizing and shaping operations, comprising a base, a stationary support and a revolu-v ble turret mounted-on^said base, a plurality of, rotatable spindles mounted upon said turret and equally spaced about the periphery thereof, arbors secured to said spindles and each having a., shoulderior supporting one end ofa tubular glass blank inserted endwise thereover, means for continuously rotating said spindles about th eir axes, a barrel-forming mechanism vand an independent tip-forming mechanism carried -by said support in the path of said spindles andspaced from each other a predetermined distance, means to index said turret to position each of said spindles successively in operative proximity nrst' to said barrel-forming mechanism and then to said tip-forming mechanism, said barrel forming movable bore-forming member, and a burner,

independent actuating mechanisms'each timed to the indexing of the turret for independently i opening the respectivef sets of rolls to permit blanks on their arbors to be entered between said sets of rolls while said 'arbors are being indexed into operative Aproximity to said sets of rolls, and for independently re-opening said sets of rolls when the turret is about to resume its in-v dexing movement, means for independently closing saidsets of rolls against said blanks while the turret is pausedin its indexing movement, means timed to theindexing of the turret for moving the end-pressuredevice axially against the unsupported end of a blank tourge said blank against its arbor while the barrel-forming rolls are closed upon said blank and to withdraw it from the .blank when said rolls'are re-cpened, means timed to the indexing of the turret for imparting traversing movements to the Alongitudinally movable burner thereby to apply softening flame to a blank substantially from end to end thereof while said blank is being actedupon by said barrel forming rolls and said end-pressure device, and' means timed to the indexing of the turret for moving the bore-forming member axially'against the tip end of a blank while the tip-forming rolls are closed upon said blank and to withdraw it from said blank when said rolls are re-open'ed. i

9. A machine vfor'producing uniformly dimensioned articles by a series of nre-sizing and shaping operationa'comprising a support, a revoluble v turret, aplurality of rotatable spindlesmounted uponsaid turret and equally spaced about the periphery thereof, arbors secured to said spindles and each having a shoulder for supporting one end of a tubular glass blank inserted endwise thereover, means for continuously rotating said spindles about their axes, a first set and a second set of sizing and shaping rolls carried by said support in the path of said spindles and spaced from each other a predetermined distance, means to index said turret to position each of said spindles successively in operative proximity to each of said sets of rolls, independent actuating mechanisms each timed to the indexing of the turret for independently opening the respective sets of rolls to permit blanks on their arbors to be entered between said sets of rolls while said arbors said sets of rolls and for independently re-opening said sets of rolls when the turret isabout to resume its indexing movement, means for independently closing said sets of rolls against said blanks While the turret is paused in its indexing movement, an end-pressure device located adjacent said first set of rolls for exerting end pressure on the unsupported end of a blank entered Ibetween the first set of rolls, means timed to the indexing of the turret for actuating said device, and a burner adjacent each set of rolls for bathing `in softening names selected portions of blanks entered between said sets of rolls.

10. The machine of claim 1', a retractible end pressure device located adjacent the iirst set of said rolls, and means operated by one o1' said pistons and cylinders in time to the indexing of Y the turret forv moving said device into position v2 to exert end pressure on a piece of work entered between said s et of rolls.` i

11. The machine of claim 1, a retractible wire located adjacent the second set of said rolls, and means operated by one of said pistons and cylinders. in- `time to the indexing of the turret for moving said wire into one end of a. piece of workA entered between said set of rolls.

12. A machine for producing uniformly dimen- V sioned articles by a series of fire-sizing and shaping operations, comprising a support, a revoluble turret, a plurality of rotatable spindles mounted upon said turret and equally spaced about the lset of sizing and shaping rolls carried by said are being indexed into operative proximity to support in the path of said spindles and spaced from each other a predetermined distance, means to index said turret to position each of said spindles successively in operative proximity to each of said sets of rolls, a timing cam, means for continuously rotating said cam, a series of independent control devices independently actuated by said cam, means operated by one of said control devices for opening the rst set of rolls to permit a blank on its arbor to be entered between dsaid iirst set of rolls while said arbor is being indexed into operative proximity to said first set of rolls, and for re-opening said rst set 0I rolls when the turret is about to resume its indexing movement, means for closing said rst set of rolls against said blank while the turret is paused in its indexing movement, an end pressure device located adjacent said first setof rolls for exerting end pressure on the unsupported end of a blank entered between said rst set of rolls, meanstimed to the indexing of the turret for actuating said end-pressure device, a traversing burner adjacent said iirst set of rolls for lbathing in softening flame selected portions of a blank entered between said set of rolls, means for imparting vtrasversing movements to said burner, means operated by another of said control devices for opening the second set of rolls to permit a blank on its arbor to be entered therebetween while said arborv is being indexed into operative proximity to said second set of rolls and for re-opening said second set of lrolls when the turret is about to resume its indexing movement, means for closing said second set of rolls while the turret is paused in its indexing movement, an axially movable device located adjacent said second set of rolls, means timed to the indexing of the turret for actuating said axially movable device, and a burner adjacent said second set of rolls for bathing in softening ame selected portions of a blank to be shaped by said second set of rolls.

' JESSE CONRAD SMITH. 

